Rev. Rob Jones
April 12, 2026

John 20:19-23

19When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." 22When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

Set the scene
The high priest and the Sadducees become jealous of the apostles’ growing influence and have them arrested and thrown into the public jail. During the night, however, an angel of the Lord opens the prison doors, leads them out, and commands them to go back to the temple and continue teaching the people about the new life in Jesus. At daybreak, the apostles obey and resume teaching in the temple courts.

Meanwhile, the high priest and the council convene and send for the prisoners, only to discover that the jail is securely locked and guarded, but the apostles are gone. A report then comes that the men they imprisoned are standing in the temple teaching the people. The captain and his officers bring the apostles back—but without violence, because they fear the reaction of the people, who hold the apostles in high regard.

Acts 5:27-32

When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, 28saying, "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you are determined to bring this man's blood on us." 29But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than any human authority. 30The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him."

Introduction: A Concise Comparative Analysis of Acts 5:27-32 and John 20:19-31

Both Acts 5:27–32 and John 20:19–23 show important moments in the very beginning of the Church, after Jesus rose from the dead. These stories teach us three main things: obedience, faith, and they show the power of the Holy Spirit.

The followers of Jesus were afraid and facing opposition from powerful leaders. John does not hide his distrust of the Jewish establishment's hegemony, their unchecked power. Even when it was dangerous, those who witnessed the resurrection chose to obey God rather than people. They trusted that Jesus was truly alive and that His Spirit was with them. Jesus came to them and gave them His peace. Because of this, they were no longer controlled by fear. The Holy Spirit gave them the courage and strength to speak openly about Jesus, to claim the resurrection. As they obeyed God and spoke boldly about Jesus’ death and resurrection, more and more people believed, and the early Church grew.

These passages remind us that we, too, are witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection. Even though we have not seen Him with our own eyes, we believe in Him. Like the disciples, we are also sent out to share the good news. When we choose faith instead of doubt and obey God, the Holy Spirit uses us to bring Jesus’ love and grace to the world around us.

Unyielding Obedience to God

The apostles’ declaration, “We must obey God rather than any human authority” (Acts 5:29), encapsulates a core tenet of the Reformed tradition: the sovereignty of God over all aspects of life. This challenges us to evaluate our own priorities. In a culture that often pressures us to conform to societal norms or governmental mandates, the apostles remind us that our ultimate allegiance belongs to God. God Alone! 

For the Church today, this means standing firm in the truth of the gospel, even when it is unpopular or meets resistance. As individuals, we are called to reflect on our lives and the decisions we make every day—what are our beliefs, and are they consistent with Christ’s teachings? Are we compromising our beliefs for the sake of acceptance or comfort? The apostles’ example encourages us to boldly proclaim the truth of Christ by advocating for justice, mercy, and grace, regardless of the consequences. Their actions inspired the righteous to live with integrity and conviction, serving as beacons of hope in a world that desperately needs the light of the gospel.

Witnessing to the Resurrection

It is important to recognize that the apostles were not merely passive observers of Christ’s resurrection, nor were they casual recipients of His grace; they were active witnesses empowered to share the good news of salvation. In Acts 5:32, Peter affirms their role as witnesses, emphasizing that they had seen the risen Lord. We must ask ourselves, “Is this call to witness echoed in our lives today?” If you hesitate when asking that question, or if you must think hard to recall a moment when you have shared the love of Christ, then you may not like the answer. 

For the Church, it must always testify to the transformative power of the resurrection. It means we must invite people to worship, even if they say no. It means we are to invite others to seek a relationship with Jesus. But realize that all we can do is invite. Then we need to let the Holy Spirit do God’s part. You plant the seed, God makes it grow. Each believer is entrusted with the responsibility to share their personal testimony of faith, illustrating how Christ has changed their lives. This does not mean going down to the street corner and starting to testify or forcing your story on anyone. It means, simply, to extend the hand of grace and, if asked, share your experience with the divine. To quote a t-shirt that my wife owns, “Be the change you wish to see.” Our lives should be an example of Christ's transformation and grace. Examine your life, can you find an example to share? 

As individuals, Christ encourages us to recognize that our stories—our struggles, our victories, and our encounters with God—serve as powerful testimonies of His grace. They are echoed through our actions in our homes, our communities, and in our congregations. The apostles' boldness in proclaiming the resurrection invites us to share the hope we have in Christ with others. Our witness can lead others to a relationship with the divine through the Holy Spirit. Your life may inspire someone to experience God's life-changing love and grace. AMEN!?

Reliance on the Holy Spirit

Do not get too excited or fearful about doing this work we are called to, because it is easy to overlook the Holy Spirit’s part in this lesson. God’s gift of the Holy Spirit means that we are not called to operate in our own strength but to seek divine guidance and empowerment in all things. The Holy Spirit is our motivator, that voice that says, “Shout it out loud, He is Risen! Indeed!” A prime example of this is found in the PC(USA) church structure. The Session, the Church’s spiritual leaders, are lifted by the congregation to use their spiritual gifts, enabling the entire body to serve Christ effectively and to reach out to a world in need. The mechanism may be different in other denominations, but the goal of the Holy Spirit is the same – to motivate. 

As individuals, the Spirit encourages us to cultivate a relationship with God. To actively seek God’s will, to humble ourselves, to be sanctified by the Spirit. When we claim resurrection and humble ourselves at the foot of the cross, the Spirit will lead us in our decisions, empower our witness, and transform our hearts. A reliance on the Holy Spirit is neither a crutch nor a weakness; it fosters a deeper intimacy with God, enabling us to navigate life’s challenges with His wisdom and peace. Intimacy can only be achieved when we fully submit to God. Again, can you set your ego aside to find intimacy with God? Can you be that honest with yourself, with God?

Conclusion

What we should learn from this lesson in the first week of Easter is that the actions of the apostles are not relics of the past; they are a clarion call for the Church today and for each of us. Their unwavering obedience, their role as witnesses, and their reliance on the Holy Spirit challenge us to embrace our identity as followers of Christ, and nothing else, no other label, whatever it may be. As we reflect on this lesson and the example of the disciples, let us be inspired to live courageously, share our faith boldly, and depend on the Holy Spirit, knowing that we, too, are part of God’s redemptive story in the world. “He is Risen! Indeed!”

As you step forward into the world today, do so with a sense of purpose, empowered by the same Spirit that guided the apostles, ready to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to all nations, fulfilling your calling as His witness in a world that longs for hope and healing. I will leave you to contemplate this in your heart. 

Bibliography

• Interlinear Bible. 29 Nov. 2024. <https://biblehub.com/interlinear>.
• NIV Study Bible. Grand rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011.
• "NRSVue." NRSVue Holy Bible with Deuterocanonical/Apocryphal Books of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2022.
• Powery, Emerson B., et al., The Westminster Study Bible. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2024.
• Strong, S.T.D., LL.D., James. The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Peabody: Hendrickson Publishing Group, n.d.